Finance & Economics | WPN World People News

Quarterly GDP in volume terms for the G20

Percentage change on the previous quarter, seasonally adjusted data

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team led by Jean-François Dauphin visited Algiers from March 1 to 14 to hold discussions for the 2016 Article IV consultation. Discussions focused on the impact of the decline in oil prices on Algeria’s economy and the policies needed to adjust to the shock.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday completed the sixth and seventh reviews of Guinea’s economic performance under the program supported by an Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. The Board’s decision enables the immediate disbursement of SDR 18.36 million (about US$25.6 million), bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to SDR 155.295 million (about US$216.7 million).

Government spending for infrastructure is driving a modest pick-up in growth, projected to be 5.1 % for 2016, says a new World Bank report.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday approved a new SDR 709.259 million (about US$989.8 million) 24-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) and a SDR 354.629 million (about US$494.9 million) 24-month Standby Credit Facility (SCF) for Kenya, for a combined SDR 1.06 billion (about US$1.5 billion, or 196 percent of Kenya’s quota).

The World Bank and the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development officially launched the Kazakhstan Skills and Jobs Project aimed at improving employment outcomes and skills of those in need of training on March 14.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Ali Mansoor visited Dakar from March 1–14, 2016 to conduct discussions on the second review of the three-year arrangement under the Policy Support Instrument (PSI) approved in June 2015.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, headed by Marshall Mills, visited Antananarivo, Madagascar, from March 2–11 to assess progress under the Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) with Madagascar.

Environmental policy has only a small impact on trade growth

The tourism industry in OECD countries continues to grow strongly despite economic weakness in advanced economies, and outperformed tourism globally in 2014. However, active, innovative and integrated policies are needed to ensure that tourism remains a competitive and sustainable sector, says OECD.